Westfield Bondi Junction will reopen to the public on Thursday, almost a week after six people were stabbed to death.
The busy shopping centre in Sydney’s east will reopen its doors for a ‘quiet’ community reflection day, where the public are invited to walk through the complex and pay their respects to the five women and a Westfield security guard killed by Joel Cauchi in Saturday’s deadly rampage.
Retailers will remain closed for trade on Thursday.
Many retailers will reopen to trade as normal on Friday, although some have chosen to remain shut.
Westfield Bondi Junction will reopen for a community reflection day
Counselling services will be available for anyone struggling to come to terms with the devastating tragedy.
‘We have been very considered in our plans to reopen the centre in a way that is respectful to the victims, their families and all in the community who are grieving,’ Scentre Group chief executive Elliott Rusanow told reporters.
‘This has been a very difficult time and I want to acknowledge the hard work and efforts, tireless efforts of our Westfield Bondi team and the broader Scentre Group team in working tirelessly in our reopening plans and working through conditions, which have been very devastating in their minds and in all of our minds.
There will be a dedicated memorial site inside the centre for the public to place flowers and tributes, which will be in addition to the growing shrine outside Westfield.
Digital advertising screens normally used for ads will instead display a black ribbon as a symbol of remembrance and mourning.
‘The centre will be quiet, allow for reflection to occur as members of the community are able to come and pay their respects,’ Mr Rusanow said.
‘Those quiet settings will continue on Friday and beyond in other words to pay our respects to what has occurred here.
‘Some retailers will choose not to reopen, and there will be their choice on that day and it will be their choice when they do open.’
Scentre Group chief executive Elliott Rusanow announced that Westfield will reopen for trading on Friday
Security will be ramped up at the centre after Westfield guard Faraz Tahir, 30, was among those killed during his first week at Bondi Junction.
‘There will be an increased security presence, there will be an increase in the equipment that the security guards have to wear, but more importantly there’ll be an increased police presence,’ Mr Rusanow said.
The other victims were new mum Ashlee Good, 38, Dawn Singleton, 25, the daughter of millionaire businessman John Singleton, mother-of-two Jade Young, 47, Pikria Darchia, 55, and Chinese national Yixuan Cheng, 27.
Multiple others were also injured and remain in hospital, including Ms Good’s nine-mon-old daughter Harriet.
Some of the victim’s families visited the growing shrine outside Westfield on Tuesday, including Ms Good’s parents, who gathered some of the teddy bears left for their baby granddaughter who was also stabbed in the attack.
‘I was with those families yesterday, it was a very emotional experience and we have had the opportunity to provide the reflection moment while the centre remains closed,’ Mr Rusanow said.
‘We’re working with all the victims’ families in how we support both financially and non-financially in how they grieve and move forward from the tragedy that occurred here Saturday.’
There will be an extra security presence when Westfield Bondi Junction reopens later this week
